About 10,000 sheep were penned for the occasion, with the sale going out on an incredible high.
Young Merino ewes topped at an impressive $524 per head, a new record for the Jerilderie selling centre and a remarkable result for the final sale.
For those of us who don’t necessarily speak fluent ‘sheep’, that means some of the district’s best young breeding ewes were attracting more than $500 each!
A wonderful reflection of both the strength of the market and the quality of sheep produced in our region.
The John Wells Memorial Sale has been a much-loved fixture on our local agricultural calendar for more than two decades, showcasing Jerilderie and the surrounding district’s proud Merino industry and regularly attracting buyers from across the region.
There was plenty of nostalgia around the rails as producers, agents and buyers gathered for one last sale and what was a significant day in Jerilderie’s agricultural history.
Congratulations to everyone involved in Friday’s final sale and to all those who have played a part in the Jerilderie Saleyards over the years.
Murrrumbigee Council announced in March this year that the saleyards would close following the memorial sale, after attempts to find a replacement operator failed.
Council had been seeking someone to take over the facility, via expressions of interest, since regular sales ceased in November last year.
Mayor Ruth McRae said, at the time, the decision “hasn’t been an easy one”.
To support the final sale, Murrumbidgee Council invested $15,000 in minor works to improve safety and usability.
Cr McRae confirmed council has no plans to dispose of the saleyards land in the immediate future, and that future options for the saleyards site would be explored once infrastructure is dismantled.
The closure of the saleyards does not affect the truck wash facility, which will continue to operate at the site.
